Even though we are not gathering in person for worship at this time, here is a peek behind the scenes at some of the work in the Sanctuary. Last Sunday you may have noticed we had to switch back to Zoom for live stream worship, which presented a few technical challenges. This is because we discovered during the equipment check that morning that one of the contractors had rewired the camera in preparation to interface with the new systems.

They assumed that the room was not being used to produce worship, since it looks like a construction zone with plywood, lifts, tarps, tools, and cables everywhere. Suffice it to say, Sunday was a very real example of needing to pivot quickly and adapt to changing conditions. Right now we are between systems and need to be flexible as the installation process unfolds. Thank you for your patience.

At the same time, this was a very productive week in the construction process. The new speaker array and retractable projection screen were both installed while additional electrical work continues. Next week we will begin integrating the new equipment with the current audio-visual systems (camera and soundboard). One key piece of the puzzle is the large projector, which may be delayed due to supply chain issues. We remain hopeful for a mid-September completion of the physical installation so the Sanctuary can transform from a construction zone to a more welcoming space.

Once the system is operational, the next step will be orientation and training with the new equipment for the Sound Team, Tech Team, and Worship Team. While we are eager to move forward, we may be in learning mode for a bit as we adapt to a new workflow for Sunday mornings.

Please know that safety is a concern throughout the process on multiple levels. Contractors and staff are masked, lift operators are harnessed, and load limits for all the equipment hanging from the ceiling have been certified by a structural engineer. The floors have been covered with ram board and plywood to ensure that the heavy lifts won't crack or scratch the wood floor.

We look forward to a time when we can all gather together safely in the Sanctuary once again. For now, we will continue to create live stream worship as we develop our capacity for multi-platform worship.